Chapter Thirty-Four

**Later at the Exit Staircase on the VIP Floor**

The soft hum of conversation faded away as Ethan settled onto the middle stair of the grand exit staircase. The polished marble felt cool beneath him, but the weight of his thoughts made him restless. The quietude of the empty space offered no comfort; he was deep in contemplation when the sound of footsteps disrupted his reverie. He turned and saw Mae descending the staircase, her expression a mixture of apprehension and determination as she approached. She reached his stair and sat down beside him, the air thickening with unspoken tension.

"I got your message to meet here. What do you want?" she asked, her tone sharper than she intended, tension vibrating in her words.

Ethan took a deep breath, glancing downward before meeting her gaze. "Can we just forget the fact that we can't stand each other and have a reasonable conversation for once?" he proposed, his voice calm but firm, the request hanging heavily between them.

"Fine. I'll behave," she conceded, her shoulders relaxing just a fraction, though her eyes remained wary.

"I got the papers today," Ethan continued, swallowing hard. "And I already signed them."

"You did what?!" Her shock was palpable, a mix of disbelief and anger taking immediate hold of her.

"My lawyer said that it'll take a month to finalize the divorce, so you have nothing to worry about," he replied, the words feeling heavy on his tongue, as if he were casting a judgment on their shared lives.

"Are you crazy?" she demanded, a tremor of fear weaving through her words. The sincerity in her tone suggested an urgency he couldn't ignore—this mattered deeply to her.

"You promised," he reminded her quietly, his gaze unflinching.

"I'm sorry," she said, her eyes filling with unshed tears, remorse creeping into her voice.

"I'm leaving for London by the weekend," he stated, his heart racing under the weight of the announcement.

"You're leaving us?" The shock in her voice cut through him, a dagger of guilt. 

"I have to help my family," he replied, looking away as a wave of uncertainty washed over him.

"Is it work-related?" she asked, searching his face for answers.

"Something like that," he said cryptically, the burden of truth pressing down on them both.

"When are you coming back?" Her voice was soft now, almost pleading.

"I have no idea. It might take a while," he confessed, uncertainty etching lines of worry across her features.

"What about the kids? Are you going to abandon them and leave me to raise them alone?" Her voice cracked at the end, the sheer fear of being left alone evident.

"I'll never do such a thing to my own kids. I'll be back to see them after they get discharged," he said, leaning closer, desperate to convey his sincerity.

"Why are you doing this?" she implored, brow furrowed, searching for a reason that would make sense in the chaos surrounding them.

"I thought about our situation and realized my hatred for you could affect the kids. I don't want to do to them what your father did to you. I want them to have a better childhood than we both had," he explained, his voice steady yet vulnerable. "If that means I have to forgive you and your mother for what happened years ago, then I'm willing to."

"Ethan?" she said softly, her heart fluttering with recognition of the depth of his words.

"I don't want us to repeat the same mistakes our parents made with us," he continued, closing his eyes for a moment as if the weight of their shared past bore down on him.

"Where does that leave us?" she asked, vulnerability etched on her face.

"Staying together just for the sake of our kids might end up being a regret in the future," he replied, his tone even but heavy with sorrow.

"Is that why you agreed to sign the divorce papers?" she asked, seeking clarity in the murky waters between them.

"I don't want to keep hurting you just to make myself feel better. The truth is, it's just making me feel more awful than I already am," he confessed, his voice trembling slightly.

"I don't want to get a divorce. I just want to be with you," she whimpered, the anguish spilling from her heart.

"I know you love me, Mae, but it's one-sided. One-sided love is not what we need right now. I need to learn to love you, and I can't do that when seeing you is a constant reminder of that day," he said, his voice cracking just a little, the pain of the past seeping into the present.

"Ethan?" Her voice was desperate, needing him to understand.

"We need time away from each other so that we can finally heal," he asserted with resolve, but this left a chill in the air between them.

"I'm never going to stop loving you, Ethan," she whispered, resting her head gently on his shoulder, warmth mingling with the cool night air.

"I'm going to miss you," he admitted, the words hanging heavily in the space between them, thick with unfulfilled longing.

"Can I kiss you one last time?" She looked up at him, hope and sadness dancing in her eyes.

"Sure—it's not like I have a choice," he said with a wistful smile as she leaned closer, their lips meeting in a tender kiss. Her warmth enveloped him, and he found himself kissing her back, surrendering to the moment as if it were both an ending and a beginning.

**Later at the Hospital Cafeteria**

Brooke sat at a small table for two, a half-empty coffee cup in front of her. She fidgeted, glancing at the door with growing impatience. "What's taking him so long?" she muttered under her breath.

"Sorry for keeping you waiting," Ethan said, sliding into the chair across from her, his expression darkened by deep thought.

"Are you better now?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.

"Hey, there's no need to feel so guilty. Shaun and Bella aren't behind my accident," he replied, his voice steady, masking the storm brewing inside him.

"What are you talking about?" she asked, confusion rippling through her.

"You know what I'm talking about, Brooke," he said, fixing her with an intense look. The accusation settled in the air like a heavy fog.

"I don't understand," she stammered, clenching her fists under the table in anxiety.

"The fact that Mae didn't expose you last time doesn't mean I have no idea about what you did. After all, I'm the one who got that thirty percent profit," he said, his voice low and ominous.

"You knew about that?" Brooke's voice was barely a whisper, panic replacing her earlier bravado.

"Well, that's not the only thing I know. I'll list all I know, and you'll tell me whether I'm wrong or not," he challenged, leaning forward as if daring her to refute him.

"Ethan?" Her voice trembled, fear taking root in her gut.

"Shaun was the one who brought you here because Bella recommended you," he began, his recollections falling like stones. "You were brought to make a mess in Mae's family business so they could appoint Shaun as the CEO. Mae ruined that plan. Bella was just a desperate move to get me to cheat on Mae, so Shaun could end up with her—gaining her shares and all that. But Mae's not that naive, is she? The plan went smoothly until Shaun learned Mae was pregnant. He thought the baby was the only reason we were together; I'm sure Bella filled his head with stories about what happened that night. After that, it spiraled out of control. He concluded that if the baby were gone, Mae and I wouldn't stay together. And once more, they called on you. You tricked Mae into leaving the apartment, and Shaun paid the driver to get into an accident that would make Mae lose the baby. Am I right, Brooke? Did I miss anything?" His voice was cold and unwavering, the conclusion inevitable.

Brooke trembled, a visceral fear coursing through her, breath quickening as chaos reigned in her thoughts. How had he figured it all out? What was she going to do?

"Judging by your facial expression, it's safe to say you're impressed, right?" he asked, a hint of condescension creeping into his tone.

"How did you figure it out?" she stuttered, the weight of her decisions crashing down on her.

"I'm so hurt that you underestimated me so much, Brooke. Shaun and Bella are fools, but I expected you to know better," he said, disappointment lacing his words.

"I'm sorry, Ethan," she pleaded, eyes wide as guilt washed over her.

"My wife and kids almost lost their lives because of you," he shot back, his voice trembling with anger, the gravity of her actions evident.

"I didn't have a choice, Ethan!" she cried, desperation spilling into her voice.

"We all have a choice, Brooke," he countered, holding her gaze, unyielding.

"I was in too deep. They weren't just going to let me go when I knew too much," she whimpered, panic straining her voice.

"Then how are you going to make it up to me?" he challenged, crossing his arms, eyes sharp and calculating.

"What do you mean?" she asked, frowning in confusion.

"I'm not as forgiving as Mae is, so I'd advise you to find a way to appease me," he warned, his tone dark and foreboding.

"What do you want?" she whispered, indignation mingling with fear.

"Well, if it's not too much to ask, I want you to keep working with Shaun and Bella," he said, watching her reaction closely.

"Really?" Her eyes widened as the implications sunk in.

"Yes. It'll be nice to have another insider in their team," he replied, matter-of-factly.

"Another insider?" she echoed, unsure whether to feel relief or dread.

"Just pretend you didn't hear that," he said, leaning back, crossing his arms.

"What do you want me to do?" she asked, curiosity piquing amidst the tension.

"I want you to help them with every plan they're carrying out. I want you to ensure each scheme is a success," he stated bluntly.

"You want me to help them ruin your life?" she gasped, disbelief washing over her.

"Yes," he confirmed, casting her a steely gaze.

"Are you sure you're okay?" she asked, concern for him leaking into her voice as apprehension tightened the air around them.

"I'm fine. Thanks for caring," he replied, sarcasm dripping from his words.

"Why do you want to help them? You know they're going to do everything to harm Mae and the babies," she said, a flicker of compassion igniting within her.

"I feel like it's going to be fun," he confessed, a mocking grin creeping onto his face. "I'm getting bored ruining their plans every time. I want to see how creative they can get when they fail."

"You sound crazy," Brooke stated, disbelief etched on her face.

"Are you going to do it?" he pressed, probing for her commitment.

"Yes, I will," she agreed reluctantly, a tremor of fear evident in her voice.

"Good. I'll keep you updated if there are any changes," he said as he stood, tension slowly dissipating from his posture.

"You really care about her, don't you?" she asked quietly, her gaze softening.

"She didn't become my wife and the mother of my kids that easily," he replied, his voice resolute, a flicker of nostalgia sparking in his eyes.

"I hope she makes you happy," she said, the weight of her words lingering in the air.

"You're not a bad person, Brooke," Ethan admitted, his voice softer now.

"Am I supposed to be?" she asked, vulnerability peeking through her tough exterior.

"Just forget about it," he said, shaking his head.

"Sure," she answered, a bittersweet smile crossing her lips.

"I'll see you another time," he said, turning to leave, each step filled with burdened intent.

"You really are lucky, Mae," Brooke thought, a smile creeping across her face as she watched him go. 

---

Ethan and Nicole bustled around the apartment, striding to gather their things for the imminent journey to London. The atmosphere was charged with anticipation, the kind that made the heart race and the palms sweat. Alex, ever supportive, decided to tag along, his demeanor lightening the mood with the promise of camaraderie, while Nick prepared for his return to South America, his gaze cloaked in thoughtfulness as he shared a final meaningful glance with them.

In the aftermath of everything, Mae was finally discharged from the hospital, a bittersweet triumph unclear against the backdrop of her concern for the babies, who still needed to remain in care for another month. A wave of anxiety washed over her as she returned to Ethan's apartment, filled with determination to prepare the nursery. She moved through the space like a whirlwind, each item she touched reminding her of both joy and the challenge ahead.

Meanwhile, Michael accompanied Emilia to see her family. In another part of town, Emily and Caleb made their way to the Davies family, their plans aimed at healing old wounds. A sense of urgency gripped them as Michael and Emilia sought to extricate Kelly from Mae's life, especially now that Ethan would be away for an uncertain stretch. Tension frayed and snagged, however, when Kelly announced her plan to move to town and stay with Mae, turning the stakes even higher as Shaun and Bella prepared their next plot, with Brooke now seated at their table.

Eventually, Mark, having undergone treatment after a long time, was discharged but chose to leave the country.

As the group boarded the flight to London, Mr. Blackwood assumed the lead role with unwavering confidence. Once they landed, the weight of his authority settled around them. With an air of pride, he immediately recognized Nicole as his daughter and introduced Ethan as his grandson, the words falling as an anchor in their new reality. He proceeded to hold a shareholder meeting—each face in the room bearing stories and histories intertwined with ambition.

Amidst murmurs and exchanged glances, Mr. Blackwood nominated Ethan as president. Some shareholders and board members nodded in agreement, some whispering praises in the shadows, knowing well the astute mind he had in the business world. Yet, Sebastian's disapproval rippled through the tension, with arguments erupting from dissenting voices insisting that Ethan was too young to navigate such a vast empire.

The stakes were set high when Mr. Blackwood conceded that Ethan would have two months to prove himself, or else risk being ousted from the presidency—a challenge meant to test both his courage and ingenuity.

While Nicole spent precious time bonding with her mother and father, Ethan faced the monumental task of embracing his new role with unwavering determination, quietly steeling himself to prove to the world—and to himself—that he was more than capable of rising to the occasion. As they journeyed into this new chapter, the fabric of their lives began to intertwine once more, each thread carrying the weight of past sins and the hope for a brighter future.